Drivers of vaccination preferences to protect a low-value livestock resource: Willingness to pay for Newcastle disease vaccines by smallholder households

Zoë A Campbell,Linus Otieno,Gabriel M Shirima,Thomas L Marsh,Guy H Palmer

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.11.058

Zoë A Campbell, Linus Otieno + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.11.058

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Abstract

Vaccination can be an effective risk management approach to minimize the burden of disease and increase livestock productivity for smallholder households in low income countries. In contrast to vaccination of cattle, a high-value smallholder asset, there is a significant knowledge gap for the drivers of vaccine adoption of smallholder poultry. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) causes high mortality in chickens and is one of the greatest constraints to East African poultry production. To determine preferences and willingness to pay for NDV vaccines by chicken-owning households in Tanzania, we administered a survey with a contingent valuation activity to 535 households across six villages in Arusha, Singida, and Mbeya regions. Given the low current vaccination rate, we tested the null hypothesis that smallholder households do not value NDV vaccines and found overwhelming evidence that smallholders do value NDV vaccines. The willingness to pay (WTP) estimate was 5853 Tanzanian shillings ($2.64) to vaccinate ten chickens given the vaccine was protective for a period of three months. This estimate is about twice the market price reported by households in the study areas suggesting chicken-owning households value and benefit from NDV vaccines, but face other barriers to vaccination. Previous vaccination had the largest positive effect size on WTP suggesting smallholders observe benefits from vaccinating. In contrast to studies of vaccination of higher-cost cattle where off-farm income sources often drive willingness to pay, on-farm income was a driver of WTP for NDV vaccines suggesting different drivers affect protection of low-value livestock assets as compared to high-value assets.

Highlights

Livestock play an important role in the food and economic security of smallholder households, defined as agricultural households with limited resource endowments relative to other farmers in the sector [1]
Though these reports are not supported by diagnostic testing, high mortality is consistent with clinical signs of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and the high percentage of households reporting NDV indicates that it is perceived as a significant threat
The results of this study overwhelmingly suggest that smallholder households have a strong preference for NDV vaccines

Summary

Introduction

Livestock play an important role in the food and economic security of smallholder households, defined as agricultural households with limited resource endowments relative to other farmers in the sector [1]. Previous studies of willingness to pay and adoption of livestock vaccines by smallholder farmers highlight the importance of household income as a driver of vaccination, especially in the case of high-value livestock such as cattle. In contrast to vaccination of cattle, a high-value smallholder asset, there is a significant knowledge gap on the drivers of vaccine adoption of smallholder poultry. This is most relevant for highly contagious pathogens that cause high flock mortality, such as Newcastle disease virus (NDV). As a consequence of the relatively low value of poultry, households may assume the risk of disease and replace chickens if necessary rather than pay for the vaccine. We present the results of the study and discuss the findings in the context of drivers of household valuation of livestock

Contingent valuation

Survey

Study area

Survey results

Willingness to pay

Discussion